I always end up doing all the NCPD side-missions before I meet Dexter in his cab, just so I can pay back Vik and get some double-jump upgrades. There's maybe 1-2 I do not do right away in Watson because they are easier after I get double-jump.
@@GOODEUSMAXIMUS Yeah, something like his past coming after him and not wanting to go back in the ring, hoping you can take care of it for him. Should you choose a certain path, Vik go back to fighting and you lose access to his clinic. Complete it and you get an exclusive cyberware and 10% discount buying from him
@@maxentirunos I think this would most likely ruin the character. Vik is the only person in Night City that is constantly helping out V without asking for anything in return. It would make him less special if he, like everybody else, had a favour to ask.
It takes a special kind of man to be scary enough for most people to leave you alone WITHOUT chrome, but I think the important thing about Viktor is that he wasn't that number one boxer, as strange as it sounds. He's not the man who stood at the top, he wasn't the champion,, and that LET him walk away, step down and live his quiet life. He was successful, and dangerous, enough that he didn't need to be afraid of people trying to scare the 'washed out ol' 'ganic', but not so much that people didn't let him walk away when he chose to. Also when considering Vik and Misty, I think they're the two halves of genuine health (the kind that let V go as far as he did without losing himself): Viktor is physical health of the body, Misty is spiritual health of the mind/soul.
Each character in Cyberpunk is related in some way to a tarot card. And if you remember the card that you find in their alley is the Chariot. Both Victor and Misty represent the horses that pull the charioteer forward, each in a different direction. Misty represents the emotional, irrational, ...mystic mind. Victor is the rational, scientific, reasonable, materialistic mind. Misty is the one that seeks spiritual improvement and improve(calm) your mind, Victor literally improves your material body. They are the two contrasting parts of the one whole.
getting the two different pills was enough for me to see they’re two sides to a coin. Glad to have another pov 😅 never thought about it quite like that
"I'll never be a legend in this town, but been sleeping nights ever since." I love Viktor. His performance, especially when giving V their prognosis is so amazing
Can we also acknowledge the poetic beauty of vik installing new eyes for V as their first big upgrade whilst warning them about the high risk heist and Dex. The man is litterally trying to make them see a clearer picture but V is too blinded by his loyalty to the eagerness and dreams of jackie to see it.
Vik always reminds me of that kind Uncle who's been there, done that, knows how dumb it is and warns you about it.... but will be there to help you where he can.
@warlordofbritannia it's a quote from a movie called Way of the Gun, and the entire movie is based around good people having to do bad things but still being good people, bad people hired to do good things are bad people because they were always bad people. In Night City it's pretty much the same, the difference is if you feel regret for your actions, you can feel shame for them if they haunt you. A bad person won't feel shame for their actions until those consequences are laid at their feet, long story short a good person feels bad for their actions regardless, a bad person feels bad for their actions when it hurts them.
That describes my grandpa. He was a marine during midway. He saw his friends die as a medic and he also had to fight to stay alive. It blows my mind how gen Z and A mocks vets.
@zerotodona1495 I don't know if I fit in as a Millennial, Gen Z, or Alpha, but I knew no one thing: I don't mock vets; now, I might mock the military and the leaders who are terrible in high positions. But not the shoulders that I know get on the ground, especially the old guys as it's always awesome to hear a story or two from them if they want to tell one.
Vik's effect on the community can be really felt through a lot of Edgerunners fanfiction, where step 1 for making things better is nearly always pointing at David and going: "And get this man to Viktor Vektor's clinic!"
The way Vik looked sad, desperate and defeated when he said he couldn't help V with the Biochip I felt it so much like this guy is my one and only Ripper in this damned City.
I think one of the interesting things about Vic, and Jacky and Misty by extension, is that as one of the first characters you meet, it sets an interesting expectation to be subverted later. You start the game surrounded by good people who genuinely care about you, which makes it hit that much harder when you're introduced to the rest of Night City and realize that these good, caring people were the exception and most people don't care whether you live or die. In fact, success in Night City can often be measured by how many people want you dead.
@@sixx2683I think either the aldecaldos ending or the phantom liberty ending is cannon because in both of those v chooses the quiet life for the most part
I think one of the saddest things in cyberpunk is that dreams die. Docs last words to David are along the lines of deamers dying, V is that dreamer. You can see it in the ending where Jonny keeps V's body and V's grave has one word, and its Dreamer, that broke me cause I bought the game cause of the show and seeing David die, just to see V die, truly an incredible series.
I think series can be interpreted as a warning. We live in a world that tries to sell us this illusion of "success" at the end of the road, if you work hard enough, you will win at life, get everything you want and be happy. But from stories of both David and in some endings V, we can see that this just isn't the case. Both of them can become so obsessed with this illusion, with those "dreams" that they just end up pushing away people who love them, people who matter to them the most or just straight up ignore them and in the end they are alone. It's literally the best "It was the friends we made along the way ..." story ever written lol.
@@Retr0Duckmore than that… it’s nihilism. A lot of gen X and millennials were born into a world where we know we will always lose and have to survive. Like when people ask me for example: “How are you doing?” My answer is “existing”.
Vik is the character in Cyberpunk that I would most want to have as a friend. He just seems like a ride-or-die dude that anyone would be lucky to have in their corner (literally).
The game is stuffed full of memorable people and top drawer VA performances but Vik has always been my favorite. The weary but indulgent "last time ya here?" and the anguished "Misty!" that bookend the prologue cause me to always settle up with Vik before I do anything else, because he's got under my skin like no videogame character ever has.
Vic has such an interesting role in the story. He reminds us that there's always a choice. He doesn't have the power to save V but he does everything in his power because he cares. He contrasts nicely with the many characters that make Faustian pacts. I'm going to have to revisit this video after I finish the DLC.
Vick is what everyone wants to be when they grow up as a kid, he's the wise, caring parental figure that supports you but also warns you to be careful and supplies the tools yiu need to make it. He is a good, loving man in a world that pushes selfishness and hatred. That is why I think he is everyone's favorite Ripper.
the thing with that is, as far as most cities are concerned by 2077, your only options for fleeing Night City are realistically all in North America due to travel restrictions and/or assumedly the finances need to travel are: - NUSA (a fascist state in the Italian sense as it merges corporate and government interests) - Canada (A crumbling nation state, most major provinces have dissolved or separated.) -Eastern ('Free') Quebec (Quebec.) -Alberta (An oil refinery masquerading as a state, reliant on exports and imports in equal measure.) -Texas (See Alberta) - Mexico (Corpo-Narco State)
Something I always liked was when you’re at the end of your rope and about to make the big final decision, before going up to the roof with misty you can thank victor for everything. It’s a small detail but it’s one that really felt right, closure for a character I really thought was a good friend to V
Viktor was so friendly and truly such a good person helping me, I repaid his 17,000 (27,000?) early on in the game. Even then he was reluctant to accept.
Nice to see more love for Viktor. The man is a solid bro no matter what playthrough you go with and regardless of endings. That's a rare thing in Night City of all places.
I think a part of his care and willingness to chrome young mercs like V (especially when he just straight up gives us our first upgrades on credit that he's fully aware he might never get back but doesn't really care) is that they're going to go out there anyway so if his actions can give them ANY sort of chance then it's the lesser of 2 evils.
I totally dig your comparison to Vic being like an actual doctor, and David's ripperdoc as someone experimenting. Totally cool! Thanks for the content!
Offhand, I don't think Vik blames himself for any cyberware that may have lead to Jackie's death. Choom still must have been 99% 'ganic by the time he signed up for the Konpeki heist. What I think happened was that V was looking for a good ripper that might cut him a sweet deal and Jackie referred him to his old boxing coach. After a handful of visits with V to the clinic, Jackie winds up getting Misty's number. Now I bet Viktor definitely blames himself about Dex. If he did some digging, he would have had plenty of receipts to expose Dex as the charlatan he was. Dex was such an unstable fixer, those boys were either going to die like dogs or rise to the top almost overnight.
Vik definitely knew all the details of what went down with Dex ("He's not as chill as he likes to make out"), but was more than likely aware that nothing he could say would change V's mind on the job due to how starstruck she was about working with "_the_ Dexter DeShawn", so he just let it lie instead of making a big deal about it. As much as he's able to shit talk the gangs and make them back down from hassling him, he also seems to be very conflict averse when it comes to the few people he cares about (Misty, V and Jackie), they might be the only friends he has left and he's afraid of alienating them by starting arguments.
The 1 ripper doc that is jacked will tell you when you visit his place that he does not have cyberwear because it slows the brian at processing naturally and does more damage than good. He gives off the vibe he was a boxer as well so his reasoning could possibly be the same as Vicks
Vik is like the opposite of Doc where he doesn't enable as a means to make a few eddies. Vik enables clients' with the intention of having the means being the end- give people like V the tools to be successful and make it to the major leagues as a merc. When you beat Razor in the boxing side-quests, Vik isn't celebrating as a guy admiring how his work lets V beat a monsters like Razor. Rather, he celebrates your success as a proud friend seeing someone he cares about become great.
It would have been so easy to write a cynical character as the main character's ripperdoc for a cyberpunk story, but I am so happy that they decided to kind of surround V with all these people that almost lives contrary to big city living. Everyone feels like they are part of a smaller village and it contrasts very nicely with the harsh reality of the city itself.
You know in a way, Vik is the opposite of Dex. Dex is a poser through and through. He even treats his "quiet life" as nothing but an escape plan. Vik keeps it real, tells you how he sees it, even if he deludes himself by enabling runners with chrome. He ultimately treated his ripperdoc days as a retirement from his boxing days. But he's also very stagnant. He lives in the past, rewatching boxing matches, and keeping no small amount of trophies from his career. As a doc, he lives with regret for his enabling job and the only people that makes him come out of that hole are Misty and others.
First time I saw him, I was immediately reminded of Spider from Johnny Mnemonic. He's a bit unhinged, but he's otherwise a good caring doctor, telling Jane that she should rest and working with the Lotek against the Corps. Spider is also against his own tech, stating "Information overload! All the electronics around you poisoning the airwaves. Technological fucking civilization. But we still have all this shit, because we can't live without it."
Interesting perspective. My read of Vik was that he was one of the old schools mercs who went for "the quiet life"; too young to have been around for the glory days of Silverhand and the other legends of CP2020, but (based purely on appearances) old enough to be around, and working as a merc, during the time in which Cyberpunk Red takes place, possibly as a Techie/Med Tech which would explain why he has the medical skills to be a ripper doc. That background would also explain how he could so brazenly threaten the Scavs when they tried to push him; he's seen it all, and was actively working as a merc when Night City's reconstruction meant much larger portions of it were "Combat Zones".
Only a great career in turning humans into cyborgs, having a passion for boxing, and scaring off gangs off your lawn, can be seen as a 'quiet life' in Night City.
Vik is defo a standout among the cast, and hands-down one of my favorite characters. The interactions with him are steeped in emotional weight, minus the shop talk when we buy cyberware. I can usually hold it together during the ofrenda. That is until Vik starts to get choked up when putting the gloves down on the alter. Then it's Niagara Falls until V leaves the bar. That's why I love this game tho, despite its flaws. It's not the big-top moments that jerk the most tears from me. Rather it's those subtle, "blink and you'll miss it" moments that make me ugly cry. Like... as emotional as Jackie's final cab ride is, the thing that always destroys me is the elevator ride down to the parking garage. Where if you berate Jackie, he responds with something to the effect of "Please don't be mean to me V". Because *he* knows it's your last moments together, even if the player doesn't pick up on it. It's so tragic that some of V's last words to Jackie can be spoken in anger and frustration. That realization slammed into my heart like a bullet train. Prolly because, like Vik, I've been around a while (maybe too long). I know all too well what that kind of regret feels like. The way that kinda stuff hooks the heart is a testament to the supreme efforts undertaken by of all the devs at CDPR, but RIP my tissue budget XD
I always thought Viktor got short shrift in the discussion of the lore fabric. There's something about his character's personality that resonates so strongly with me.
It's strange to see how much Vic cares about the people that come to him, at least from the players experience. When he knows full well what he is doing and to what ends people are looking to have these modications done, he is an enabler without a doubt. Couple that with his empathic nature you now have this individual that wants you to be happy with the skin that you're in but is also willing to tear it all off for you too.
"You get to a certain age, you drop all your illusions. Life just gets easier from there." This line stuck with me from the start. His humility allowed him find a place in the messed-up world he lives in without giving up on himself. I also wish there had been more quests involving him, I think he should've had a more prominent role in 2077. But maybe then he would not have made the same impression on us. Anyway, I kind of want to be like him a little bit xD And I hope he returns in the sequel, if it is set in NC again at all. Thank you for your excellent work, again :D Great watch, this has certainly become my favourite channel for analyses of Cyberpunk 2077. Really gotta check out your book soon, too, I guess :P
I've never watched your videos before, but I find you articulate and your content engaging. Your editing skills are impressive, and the moment where Vik reminds you of your dad is heartwarming. You've gained a new subscriber.
Genuinely Vik and Misty are my two favorite characters in Cyberpunk. they give so much heart to the game and really show you a different side to all the darkness night city has to offer.
Great analysis for a great character! I love Vik, so seeing you analyse him so thoroughly, displaying the same passion and love, is truly beautiful. Your channel is incredible and all of your videos are a joy to watch!
There’s another non-chipped ripper. He’s in south-western part of Heywood. Though he’s quite paranoid, thus not being chipped. Edit. And when V returns to NC to visit Vic, the ending is open. One head-canon for me is: -V opens a business, hires and chromes up Goro as a personal bodyguard. Being close to Vic, V could buy out ZetaTech. Were does the eddies come from, you ask. Well, in every play-through, I got every apartment, every car, had millions to spare. And the technical documentations of Relic 2.0.
Vecter was such a tragic character. Between him and Panam (especially if you take the Nomad ending, which I believe is the absolute best), I don't know how gets screwed more. I think how things played out with the PHantom Liberty DLC would still be how it goes for Night City, even if you don't do the terrible new ending with the DLC. Vik ends up being a corpo-cog, unable to live the life he wanted to anymore.
Just a side note, Vik made a very brief appearance in the Cyberpunk 2077 comic book: You Have My Word volume 3. He was questioned by some gangoons but wasn't fazed.
Vik clings to hope in a city of dreams, but they're broken dreams and so is Vik. His emotions are a blessing and a curse and his hope and loyalty keep him chained to a place that is no good for him. He consistently has to watch as both those things fail, which can be too much for anyone over a long period of time no matter how tough. I like Vik the most, and if anyone needs rescuing/saving its Vik, though we all know he would never leave NC. As we see in phantom liberty, even Misty can't save him forever, so bitter sweet.
Aaron's quest in Dogtown made me realise Vic must've seen some shit and had many a close shaves. Made me sad when he had to sell his shop to Zetatech. The one time I threw my fight with Razor Hughes was the one time I felt absolutely scummy.
my god i appreciate these video essays so much. they’re so in depth and i didn’t know we could know much more from these characters other than what we see on the surface level. i really commend you, this is so so good!!
The Tower Ending is somewhat saddening as it almost feels like this is where the characters end up after V’s story, no matter which one you eventually go with. However I like to think that by some virtue of V having not disappeared and Militec not getting a Blackwall super weapon, then through some beat of the butterfly’s wings all their stories go in different directions.
I'd even go as far as to say that V potentially surviving some of these endings has the chance to radically alter the outcomes of these characters. Like a FemV getting cured in the Sun ending could prevent River from going down that darker path, as an example. The Star ending also has a chance to radically alter Judy's fate regardless of V's survival because she's likely going to stay with the Aldecados. So you're dealing with a scenario where Judy is a nomad rather than living in Pittsburgh.
Its always a surprise when a character shares the same name as me in a game, even more so when it's spelled the same way i spell my name. He was my favorite character when the game first released, and i was so happy he showed up to my boxing match in pacifica to cheer me on.
You know, every time I gotten my hands on some new piece of chrome, bought or acquired through alternative means, I didn't install it outright through some nearby ripperdoc, never. I always went to Vik, because he wasn't just A ripperdoc, but he is The Ripperdoc and the best friend V could ever ask for. Always there for him, ready to share wisdom of an old school guy, with a still all-organic heart of gold. And because of that, if I need a new Deck or Sandy installed, I go to Vik, always.
Vik's demise got me more than Jackie honestly. Cause Vik is such a genuinely good dude at heart and is like a compassionate father figure to V while Jackie is like the brother 😢
If you goto any other ripper in any playthrough, we can't be friends. Its just insane for anyone but Vik to chip V. Insane. Also its the earliest character we see V's gaurd come down, and be vulnerable. Its no wonder. V feels safe with Vik. Knows that the petty "ways of NC" don't apply in this relationship. Its ganic. Its real. Its fucking nova that you are fortunate to have someone like Vik. And he should be protected. At al costs. Not that he can't fend for himself. Hell, Viks right cross will put even a borged out Orge on their ass for a few. Ha. Good ole' Vik. A choom of chooms.
There is another ripper-doc in the game that is "not sampling the product"; V even asks him why he doesn't have any chrome. The ripper just remarks how his customers will always want new chrome no matter the side effects,,,,,,,, so who is he to say no? He is also pretty buff,,,, so maybe that helps him to feel he can get by without.
Vik reminds me of my uncle. A former Marine whose seen the worst of life and yet tried to be the best person he could be. Also I wonder if Vik did throw that last fight, did he use that money to found the clinic?
viktor is one of the few characters in the game i genuinely want to connect with, even when others are interesting as a character in their circumstances. a thing i want to mention mainly because... i can easily detach from the "viddygame eyes", aka. not forget that theyre fictional characters for a game, (sort of) analyze my invoked feelings for these characters and the likes. Still, he stands out because hes simply... a strong, yet genuinely kind character in a dog-eat-dog-world. Usually either strength, gained through usurpting competitors, money, taken and rarely earned or instead influence is the name of the game in night city, yet in the pursuit of these things we humans, flawed as we are, are easy to fall into vices that will be our downfall. Being handed the good life is a rare option, but generally the struggle is what exemplifies life in that cursed city, where often the breaking of said curse causes shunning not because you leave the group, but (as i personally believe) the envy of seeing someone... break the curse? The greatness of Vik is, as mentioned in the vid, the Strength to go up this dangerous road to success and wealth and collect you winnings instead of risking your life ever more with more risks for bigger payouts. Maybe its this strength i wish to see in others i interact with, or gain for myself, but he just seems like someone who makes the hell we endure, at our lowest points in our lives in a uncaring world or just city... bearable.
I found Vik and Mitch to be the same caliber of person where they unfailingly put others before themselves. Both probably deserved more story in game, but I'd take story posts, if CDPR were up for it. I feel like many lore holes could be closed up satisfactorily if they gave us stuff to read.
Yay another Lydi Vidi,o. I think that Vik is essentially doomed to forever be the one who lives. He will have countless souls pass through his doors and just as many will die before him. And he will be left to watch and mourn. He will find someone new to pour his love into but they too will pass leaving him to again mourn. It’s kinda telling that he is one of 2 people who you get a call from no matter what in the end credits. The other being Misty. Another survivor. So if Vik says anything it’s that surviving isn’t always as positive as one may think. Also for the PL ending. I saw a nifty theory elsewhere that V was actually cloned by Militech and had a stopper put in to prevent cyberware in preparation for Lilith/Nightcorp/Blueeyes/Alt. And that not being chipped is going to be needed to fight the war on the AI in Orion.
It’s kind of a mix of my bf getting me interested in anime/nerding out about stories with me, as well as finding a puppy I found on the side of the road. Which sounds not at all related to this kind of content but like, that puppy’s story changed me immensely in a way I can’t describe! Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words! 😄 I’ll keep the videos coming!
YOU PAY HIM BACK FIRST CHANCE
ALWAYS
I always end up doing all the NCPD side-missions before I meet Dexter in his cab, just so I can pay back Vik and get some double-jump upgrades. There's maybe 1-2 I do not do right away in Watson because they are easier after I get double-jump.
Always delay and do side stuff till I have the money beforehand. Found out that was bugged really quick, they've since fix it.😂
Lmao always. However many cyberpsychos and ncpd scanner things I gotta take care of
Always. I just started a corpo run, and did as many missions as I could in Kabuki so I could pay him off before getting the blicky to the dome.
@@MordaedilI mean, you could just do about 5 of Regina Jones’ fixer missions. Unless it’s quicker to do it this way.
Viktor is a character who is strong enough to be gentle, it's why he's such a good person
Peter Cullen would approve
I would have loved some more side missions for Vic. Learning more about him
@@Kaijugan Peter Cullen’s brother would approve
@@GOODEUSMAXIMUS Yeah, something like his past coming after him and not wanting to go back in the ring, hoping you can take care of it for him. Should you choose a certain path, Vik go back to fighting and you lose access to his clinic. Complete it and you get an exclusive cyberware and 10% discount buying from him
@@maxentirunos I think this would most likely ruin the character. Vik is the only person in Night City that is constantly helping out V without asking for anything in return. It would make him less special if he, like everybody else, had a favour to ask.
It takes a special kind of man to be scary enough for most people to leave you alone WITHOUT chrome, but I think the important thing about Viktor is that he wasn't that number one boxer, as strange as it sounds.
He's not the man who stood at the top, he wasn't the champion,, and that LET him walk away, step down and live his quiet life. He was successful, and dangerous, enough that he didn't need to be afraid of people trying to scare the 'washed out ol' 'ganic', but not so much that people didn't let him walk away when he chose to.
Also when considering Vik and Misty, I think they're the two halves of genuine health (the kind that let V go as far as he did without losing himself): Viktor is physical health of the body, Misty is spiritual health of the mind/soul.
Each character in Cyberpunk is related in some way to a tarot card. And if you remember the card that you find in their alley is the Chariot. Both Victor and Misty represent the horses that pull the charioteer forward, each in a different direction. Misty represents the emotional, irrational, ...mystic mind. Victor is the rational, scientific, reasonable, materialistic mind. Misty is the one that seeks spiritual improvement and improve(calm) your mind, Victor literally improves your material body. They are the two contrasting parts of the one whole.
Strong enough to compete with the best, realist enough knowing not to be invincible.
getting the two different pills was enough for me to see they’re two sides to a coin. Glad to have another pov 😅 never thought about it quite like that
"I'll never be a legend in this town, but been sleeping nights ever since."
I love Viktor. His performance, especially when giving V their prognosis is so amazing
Can we also acknowledge the poetic beauty of vik installing new eyes for V as their first big upgrade whilst warning them about the high risk heist and Dex.
The man is litterally trying to make them see a clearer picture but V is too blinded by his loyalty to the eagerness and dreams of jackie to see it.
That scene is about as close to getting an emergency dental procedure as you can get in a videogame.
Vik always reminds me of that kind Uncle who's been there, done that, knows how dumb it is and warns you about it.... but will be there to help you where he can.
Uncle Iroh, in other words.
@@warlordofbritannia yes
Shame David never met Vik. After loosing Maine, Vik would have been the perfect father figure David needed
As an old man once put it "Beware of an old man in a profession in which many Die Young, because he's a survivor."
Cyberpunk should have its own version, something like "Beware the good man in Night City, for he has had strength enough to last this long"
@warlordofbritannia
it's a quote from a movie called Way of the Gun, and the entire movie is based around good people having to do bad things but still being good people, bad people hired to do good things are bad people because they were always bad people.
In Night City it's pretty much the same, the difference is if you feel regret for your actions, you can feel shame for them if they haunt you.
A bad person won't feel shame for their actions until those consequences are laid at their feet, long story short a good person feels bad for their actions regardless, a bad person feels bad for their actions when it hurts them.
That describes my grandpa. He was a marine during midway. He saw his friends die as a medic and he also had to fight to stay alive.
It blows my mind how gen Z and A mocks vets.
@@zerotodona1495 I haven't seen anyone disrespect a vet (outside of the VA), let alone a bunch of gen Zers doing so
@zerotodona1495
I don't know if I fit in as a Millennial, Gen Z, or Alpha, but I knew no one thing: I don't mock vets; now, I might mock the military and the leaders who are terrible in high positions.
But not the shoulders that I know get on the ground, especially the old guys as it's always awesome to hear a story or two from them if they want to tell one.
Vik's effect on the community can be really felt through a lot of Edgerunners fanfiction, where step 1 for making things better is nearly always pointing at David and going: "And get this man to Viktor Vektor's clinic!"
Fanfiction is weird. Vik acts like a creeper. He gropes at Misty and V constantly. Seems out of place.
@chaos9059 the hell kinda fanfiction are you reading?
Smut, he's probably reading smut.
@@OddHornedNinja So, just normal fanfiction then?
@@dungeonsanddobbers2683 bad smut, my bad XD.
The way Vik looked sad, desperate and defeated when he said he couldn't help V with the Biochip I felt it so much like this guy is my one and only Ripper in this damned City.
I think one of the interesting things about Vic, and Jacky and Misty by extension, is that as one of the first characters you meet, it sets an interesting expectation to be subverted later. You start the game surrounded by good people who genuinely care about you, which makes it hit that much harder when you're introduced to the rest of Night City and realize that these good, caring people were the exception and most people don't care whether you live or die. In fact, success in Night City can often be measured by how many people want you dead.
Everyone can use a friend like viktor, how he is there for you in the PL ending after everything speaks volumes of his character
I like to headcanon that V’s departure from Night City in the Aldecados ending inspires Vik and a few other friends to also leave the cesspool.
I hope so!!!! Vik deserves a quiet and peaceful life.
same!! the aldecaldos ending is my canon ending
@@sixx2683I think either the aldecaldos ending or the phantom liberty ending is cannon because in both of those v chooses the quiet life for the most part
@@seendabeen1740I have a feeling the pl ending with the v being weak will end up being Canon. I nearly cried watching that on UA-cam lmao. Sad asf
Vik was a great support over my first playthrough, I felt more connected to him than to anyone else in Night City, a guy you can trust your life upon!
Right. He's such a dad in the best way. It's a godsend having someone like that in NC
I think one of the saddest things in cyberpunk is that dreams die. Docs last words to David are along the lines of deamers dying, V is that dreamer. You can see it in the ending where Jonny keeps V's body and V's grave has one word, and its Dreamer, that broke me cause I bought the game cause of the show and seeing David die, just to see V die, truly an incredible series.
I think series can be interpreted as a warning. We live in a world that tries to sell us this illusion of "success" at the end of the road, if you work hard enough, you will win at life, get everything you want and be happy. But from stories of both David and in some endings V, we can see that this just isn't the case. Both of them can become so obsessed with this illusion, with those "dreams" that they just end up pushing away people who love them, people who matter to them the most or just straight up ignore them and in the end they are alone.
It's literally the best "It was the friends we made along the way ..." story ever written lol.
@@NoName-ym5zjso the entire cyberpunk genre
@@Retr0Duckmore than that… it’s nihilism. A lot of gen X and millennials were born into a world where we know we will always lose and have to survive.
Like when people ask me for example:
“How are you doing?”
My answer is “existing”.
Vik is the character in Cyberpunk that I would most want to have as a friend. He just seems like a ride-or-die dude that anyone would be lucky to have in their corner (literally).
The game is stuffed full of memorable people and top drawer VA performances but Vik has always been my favorite. The weary but indulgent "last time ya here?" and the anguished "Misty!" that bookend the prologue cause me to always settle up with Vik before I do anything else, because he's got under my skin like no videogame character ever has.
It looks like the lives of both legends and nobody's tend to suck to various different degrees in night city.
Night City is Hell with a lot of neon.
Vic has such an interesting role in the story. He reminds us that there's always a choice. He doesn't have the power to save V but he does everything in his power because he cares. He contrasts nicely with the many characters that make Faustian pacts.
I'm going to have to revisit this video after I finish the DLC.
Vick is what everyone wants to be when they grow up as a kid, he's the wise, caring parental figure that supports you but also warns you to be careful and supplies the tools yiu need to make it. He is a good, loving man in a world that pushes selfishness and hatred. That is why I think he is everyone's favorite Ripper.
i have always thought that Vic was a father figure for V he genuinely cares for V & that means a lot in a place like night city.
One thing I've learned from cyberpunk 2077, Night City is a dump if you have a chance to leave it. Leave it.
Sounds a lot like Manila
Just like LA
the thing with that is, as far as most cities are concerned by 2077, your only options for fleeing Night City are realistically all in North America due to travel restrictions and/or assumedly the finances need to travel are:
- NUSA (a fascist state in the Italian sense as it merges corporate and government interests)
- Canada (A crumbling nation state, most major provinces have dissolved or separated.)
-Eastern ('Free') Quebec (Quebec.)
-Alberta (An oil refinery masquerading as a state, reliant on exports and imports in equal measure.)
-Texas (See Alberta)
- Mexico (Corpo-Narco State)
Seems better to just be a Nomad.
@@RedDeadTrooperwhat’s going on in Texas during 77?
Something I always liked was when you’re at the end of your rope and about to make the big final decision, before going up to the roof with misty you can thank victor for everything. It’s a small detail but it’s one that really felt right, closure for a character I really thought was a good friend to V
Hes also the only character that supports you regardless of which ending you choose.
@@ZeallustImmortal Except the easy way out ending.
@@Mordaedil Nah, his end message there is very understanding.
Viktor was so friendly and truly such a good person helping me, I repaid his 17,000 (27,000?) early on in the game. Even then he was reluctant to accept.
People the play High Honor in Red Dead 2 and Cyberpunk usually have the unspoken rule of paying Vik back before doing any other part of the intro.
The guy is someone you *want* to pay back. Always.
Nice to see more love for Viktor. The man is a solid bro no matter what playthrough you go with and regardless of endings. That's a rare thing in Night City of all places.
I think a part of his care and willingness to chrome young mercs like V (especially when he just straight up gives us our first upgrades on credit that he's fully aware he might never get back but doesn't really care) is that they're going to go out there anyway so if his actions can give them ANY sort of chance then it's the lesser of 2 evils.
Good point
I totally dig your comparison to Vic being like an actual doctor, and David's ripperdoc as someone experimenting. Totally cool! Thanks for the content!
Thank you so much for watching! 😁
Offhand, I don't think Vik blames himself for any cyberware that may have lead to Jackie's death. Choom still must have been 99% 'ganic by the time he signed up for the Konpeki heist. What I think happened was that V was looking for a good ripper that might cut him a sweet deal and Jackie referred him to his old boxing coach. After a handful of visits with V to the clinic, Jackie winds up getting Misty's number. Now I bet Viktor definitely blames himself about Dex. If he did some digging, he would have had plenty of receipts to expose Dex as the charlatan he was. Dex was such an unstable fixer, those boys were either going to die like dogs or rise to the top almost overnight.
Vik definitely knew all the details of what went down with Dex ("He's not as chill as he likes to make out"), but was more than likely aware that nothing he could say would change V's mind on the job due to how starstruck she was about working with "_the_ Dexter DeShawn", so he just let it lie instead of making a big deal about it.
As much as he's able to shit talk the gangs and make them back down from hassling him, he also seems to be very conflict averse when it comes to the few people he cares about (Misty, V and Jackie), they might be the only friends he has left and he's afraid of alienating them by starting arguments.
The 1 ripper doc that is jacked will tell you when you visit his place that he does not have cyberwear because it slows the brian at processing naturally and does more damage than good. He gives off the vibe he was a boxer as well so his reasoning could possibly be the same as Vicks
Vik is like the opposite of Doc where he doesn't enable as a means to make a few eddies. Vik enables clients' with the intention of having the means being the end- give people like V the tools to be successful and make it to the major leagues as a merc.
When you beat Razor in the boxing side-quests, Vik isn't celebrating as a guy admiring how his work lets V beat a monsters like Razor. Rather, he celebrates your success as a proud friend seeing someone he cares about become great.
It would have been so easy to write a cynical character as the main character's ripperdoc for a cyberpunk story, but I am so happy that they decided to kind of surround V with all these people that almost lives contrary to big city living. Everyone feels like they are part of a smaller village and it contrasts very nicely with the harsh reality of the city itself.
Like a real city
Love that 😄
You know in a way, Vik is the opposite of Dex. Dex is a poser through and through. He even treats his "quiet life" as nothing but an escape plan. Vik keeps it real, tells you how he sees it, even if he deludes himself by enabling runners with chrome. He ultimately treated his ripperdoc days as a retirement from his boxing days. But he's also very stagnant. He lives in the past, rewatching boxing matches, and keeping no small amount of trophies from his career. As a doc, he lives with regret for his enabling job and the only people that makes him come out of that hole are Misty and others.
First time I saw him, I was immediately reminded of Spider from Johnny Mnemonic. He's a bit unhinged, but he's otherwise a good caring doctor, telling Jane that she should rest and working with the Lotek against the Corps. Spider is also against his own tech, stating "Information overload! All the electronics around you poisoning the airwaves. Technological fucking civilization. But we still have all this shit, because we can't live without it."
Interesting perspective.
My read of Vik was that he was one of the old schools mercs who went for "the quiet life"; too young to have been around for the glory days of Silverhand and the other legends of CP2020, but (based purely on appearances) old enough to be around, and working as a merc, during the time in which Cyberpunk Red takes place, possibly as a Techie/Med Tech which would explain why he has the medical skills to be a ripper doc. That background would also explain how he could so brazenly threaten the Scavs when they tried to push him; he's seen it all, and was actively working as a merc when Night City's reconstruction meant much larger portions of it were "Combat Zones".
To be kind in Night City takes a lot of strength
Only a great career in turning humans into cyborgs, having a passion for boxing, and scaring off gangs off your lawn, can be seen as a 'quiet life' in Night City.
Vik is defo a standout among the cast, and hands-down one of my favorite characters. The interactions with him are steeped in emotional weight, minus the shop talk when we buy cyberware.
I can usually hold it together during the ofrenda. That is until Vik starts to get choked up when putting the gloves down on the alter. Then it's Niagara Falls until V leaves the bar. That's why I love this game tho, despite its flaws. It's not the big-top moments that jerk the most tears from me. Rather it's those subtle, "blink and you'll miss it" moments that make me ugly cry.
Like... as emotional as Jackie's final cab ride is, the thing that always destroys me is the elevator ride down to the parking garage. Where if you berate Jackie, he responds with something to the effect of "Please don't be mean to me V". Because *he* knows it's your last moments together, even if the player doesn't pick up on it. It's so tragic that some of V's last words to Jackie can be spoken in anger and frustration. That realization slammed into my heart like a bullet train.
Prolly because, like Vik, I've been around a while (maybe too long). I know all too well what that kind of regret feels like. The way that kinda stuff hooks the heart is a testament to the supreme efforts undertaken by of all the devs at CDPR, but RIP my tissue budget XD
I always thought Viktor got short shrift in the discussion of the lore fabric. There's something about his character's personality that resonates so strongly with me.
It's strange to see how much Vic cares about the people that come to him, at least from the players experience. When he knows full well what he is doing and to what ends people are looking to have these modications done, he is an enabler without a doubt. Couple that with his empathic nature you now have this individual that wants you to be happy with the skin that you're in but is also willing to tear it all off for you too.
Really glad I stumbled upon this channel - just some good quality character analysis when ya need a video to watch when youre eating a post work taco
Heck yes, another video about one of my favorite characters.
Decided to visit him once V got out of the 2 year coma, he’s a real one fr
"You get to a certain age, you drop all your illusions. Life just gets easier from there." This line stuck with me from the start. His humility allowed him find a place in the messed-up world he lives in without giving up on himself. I also wish there had been more quests involving him, I think he should've had a more prominent role in 2077. But maybe then he would not have made the same impression on us. Anyway, I kind of want to be like him a little bit xD And I hope he returns in the sequel, if it is set in NC again at all.
Thank you for your excellent work, again :D Great watch, this has certainly become my favourite channel for analyses of Cyberpunk 2077. Really gotta check out your book soon, too, I guess :P
I've never watched your videos before, but I find you articulate and your content engaging. Your editing skills are impressive, and the moment where Vik reminds you of your dad is heartwarming. You've gained a new subscriber.
Genuinely Vik and Misty are my two favorite characters in Cyberpunk. they give so much heart to the game and really show you a different side to all the darkness night city has to offer.
100%. Love them both!
I liked Vic quite a bit before this video, but now I have a great respect for the character now. Very entertaining work :)
Great analysis for a great character! I love Vik, so seeing you analyse him so thoroughly, displaying the same passion and love, is truly beautiful.
Your channel is incredible and all of your videos are a joy to watch!
There’s another non-chipped ripper. He’s in south-western part of Heywood. Though he’s quite paranoid, thus not being chipped.
Edit. And when V returns to NC to visit Vic, the ending is open. One head-canon for me is:
-V opens a business, hires and chromes up Goro as a personal bodyguard. Being close to Vic, V could buy out ZetaTech. Were does the eddies come from, you ask. Well, in every play-through, I got every apartment, every car, had millions to spare. And the technical documentations of Relic 2.0.
as someone who recently took up Viktor as one of his chosen names because of this video and analysis, rewatching this makes me really happy
Vecter was such a tragic character. Between him and Panam (especially if you take the Nomad ending, which I believe is the absolute best), I don't know how gets screwed more. I think how things played out with the PHantom Liberty DLC would still be how it goes for Night City, even if you don't do the terrible new ending with the DLC. Vik ends up being a corpo-cog, unable to live the life he wanted to anymore.
I think you’re right. 😔
Just a side note, Vik made a very brief appearance in the Cyberpunk 2077 comic book: You Have My Word volume 3. He was questioned by some gangoons but wasn't fazed.
Vik clings to hope in a city of dreams, but they're broken dreams and so is Vik. His emotions are a blessing and a curse and his hope and loyalty keep him chained to a place that is no good for him. He consistently has to watch as both those things fail, which can be too much for anyone over a long period of time no matter how tough. I like Vik the most, and if anyone needs rescuing/saving its Vik, though we all know he would never leave NC. As we see in phantom liberty, even Misty can't save him forever, so bitter sweet.
Aaron's quest in Dogtown made me realise Vic must've seen some shit and had many a close shaves. Made me sad when he had to sell his shop to Zetatech.
The one time I threw my fight with Razor Hughes was the one time I felt absolutely scummy.
I had to look up the throwing the fight option and felt so bad seeing Vik’s reaction. Just can’t do it 🤣
my god i appreciate these video essays so much. they’re so in depth and i didn’t know we could know much more from these characters other than what we see on the surface level. i really commend you, this is so so good!!
The Tower Ending is somewhat saddening as it almost feels like this is where the characters end up after V’s story, no matter which one you eventually go with. However I like to think that by some virtue of V having not disappeared and Militec not getting a Blackwall super weapon, then through some beat of the butterfly’s wings all their stories go in different directions.
I'd even go as far as to say that V potentially surviving some of these endings has the chance to radically alter the outcomes of these characters. Like a FemV getting cured in the Sun ending could prevent River from going down that darker path, as an example.
The Star ending also has a chance to radically alter Judy's fate regardless of V's survival because she's likely going to stay with the Aldecados. So you're dealing with a scenario where Judy is a nomad rather than living in Pittsburgh.
He’s the one guy I can think of who took on Night City and won. Walking away with his peace, soul and integrity intact is the ULTIMATE prize.
Awwwww yeeeeeesssssssss
A Legend that lives on to patch you up and share wisdom!
Hey, you pointed out the fact Jackie beat his dad! Glad I could be of help by pointing out that fact in the Jackie video.
Its always a surprise when a character shares the same name as me in a game, even more so when it's spelled the same way i spell my name.
He was my favorite character when the game first released, and i was so happy he showed up to my boxing match in pacifica to cheer me on.
You know, every time I gotten my hands on some new piece of chrome, bought or acquired through alternative means, I didn't install it outright through some nearby ripperdoc, never. I always went to Vik, because he wasn't just A ripperdoc, but he is The Ripperdoc and the best friend V could ever ask for. Always there for him, ready to share wisdom of an old school guy, with a still all-organic heart of gold. And because of that, if I need a new Deck or Sandy installed, I go to Vik, always.
"The strong, quiet type" - Tony Soprano
Vik's demise got me more than Jackie honestly. Cause Vik is such a genuinely good dude at heart and is like a compassionate father figure to V while Jackie is like the brother 😢
If you goto any other ripper in any playthrough, we can't be friends. Its just insane for anyone but Vik to chip V. Insane. Also its the earliest character we see V's gaurd come down, and be vulnerable. Its no wonder. V feels safe with Vik. Knows that the petty "ways of NC" don't apply in this relationship. Its ganic. Its real. Its fucking nova that you are fortunate to have someone like Vik. And he should be protected. At al costs. Not that he can't fend for himself. Hell, Viks right cross will put even a borged out Orge on their ass for a few. Ha. Good ole' Vik. A choom of chooms.
i mean, before 2.0 you kinda had to switch Rippers for specific parts. Now that every Ripper has everything you really can stay true to Vic all game.
This is an amazing analysis. Vik is one of very few true friends to V. Mad respect.
"The entropy of night city will always win".... bloddy hell luv! you make it sound like England!
To me vik will always be my main ripper, especially because of how close he is to his fast travel point
I loved Victor’s relationship with V and how he acts as the father figure in their life.
NC is a maelstrom of misery and only very few escape it. Maybe. But nobody leaves untouched.
Vik is like an angel guiding you to a treasure he cannot possess.
This was a great deep dive kudos. Glad to hear from clearly a real man with a poetic outlook 🥂
Vic was our true friend, a rock , always there, the Uncle Iroh of cyberpunk. ❤❤❤
He's my go-to ripper no matter if im all the way back in DT, ill drive all the way to my awesome doc for a tune up
Your videos are super thoughtful and lend to me having a better and more fun experience with the game. Thank you.
Aww hey that’s awesome to know! Thank you for watching.
Finally! Haven't had the time to watch it yet, but I am very happy you put this out sooner rather than later 😁
So happy to hear this! I hope you enjoy 😁
@@lydiscott I'll let you know soon ;P First thing I'll watch when I'm cozy
Victor is that quintessential "dad" character.
I can’t point out a specific source but I remember Vik being an edgerunner in the past
Incredible video and analysis as always! Love it ❤makes me want to play again... Hope you are having a good day 😊
I feel so sorry at the end of the Phantom Liberty Tower ending. An old man giving in to the tide of change.
Vik is my favourite character, so much so every time I start a new play through I make it a point to pay him back as soon as possible.
EVERYTIME! Most important mission imo lol
Another fantastic video. I wish I had found you sooner!
I got your book before my train trip! just started it and I'm enjoying it so far
AHHHH OMG THANK YOU
The videos you make are some of the best on the Internet, keep up the good work
4:59 personally I think he got lessons after the fight with his dad. It just feels like it makes more sense
There is another ripper-doc in the game that is "not sampling the product"; V even asks him why he doesn't have any chrome. The ripper just remarks how his customers will always want new chrome no matter the side effects,,,,,,,, so who is he to say no? He is also pretty buff,,,, so maybe that helps him to feel he can get by without.
Love your stuff choombata! Keep it up!
with the new ending it would be great to imagine V ended up as Vik's pupil and successor
Would love that!!!
Vik reminds me of my uncle. A former Marine whose seen the worst of life and yet tried to be the best person he could be.
Also I wonder if Vik did throw that last fight, did he use that money to found the clinic?
I’m gonna need that Misty video…
She’s next in the cyberpunk lineup 😊
Good thing they changed the upgrade system with dlc because I’m not letting any ripper but Vic work on me.
viktor is one of the few characters in the game i genuinely want to connect with, even when others are interesting as a character in their circumstances. a thing i want to mention mainly because... i can easily detach from the "viddygame eyes", aka. not forget that theyre fictional characters for a game, (sort of) analyze my invoked feelings for these characters and the likes. Still, he stands out because hes simply... a strong, yet genuinely kind character in a dog-eat-dog-world. Usually either strength, gained through usurpting competitors, money, taken and rarely earned or instead influence is the name of the game in night city, yet in the pursuit of these things we humans, flawed as we are, are easy to fall into vices that will be our downfall. Being handed the good life is a rare option, but generally the struggle is what exemplifies life in that cursed city, where often the breaking of said curse causes shunning not because you leave the group, but (as i personally believe) the envy of seeing someone... break the curse?
The greatness of Vik is, as mentioned in the vid, the Strength to go up this dangerous road to success and wealth and collect you winnings instead of risking your life ever more with more risks for bigger payouts. Maybe its this strength i wish to see in others i interact with, or gain for myself, but he just seems like someone who makes the hell we endure, at our lowest points in our lives in a uncaring world or just city... bearable.
I think your videos are so high quality, I look forward to them more and more! 😁
The aldekados are prime for a breakdown, well at the very least Panam and Saul; though i find it best if told alongside nomad v's path.
Can’t wait to cover them too!
ok. i subbed.... you win, i keep clicking your vids. Vik is me in the Cyberpunk world. all fists all day all night
VIctor is goals as far as human development goes
I found Vik and Mitch to be the same caliber of person where they unfailingly put others before themselves. Both probably deserved more story in game, but I'd take story posts, if CDPR were up for it. I feel like many lore holes could be closed up satisfactorily if they gave us stuff to read.
Definitely excited to see another great analysis video!!!
Thank you so much! I’ll keep them coming!
Yay another Lydi Vidi,o.
I think that Vik is essentially doomed to forever be the one who lives. He will have countless souls pass through his doors and just as many will die before him. And he will be left to watch and mourn. He will find someone new to pour his love into but they too will pass leaving him to again mourn. It’s kinda telling that he is one of 2 people who you get a call from no matter what in the end credits. The other being Misty. Another survivor. So if Vik says anything it’s that surviving isn’t always as positive as one may think.
Also for the PL ending. I saw a nifty theory elsewhere that V was actually cloned by Militech and had a stopper put in to prevent cyberware in preparation for Lilith/Nightcorp/Blueeyes/Alt. And that not being chipped is going to be needed to fight the war on the AI in Orion.
Vic’s good people. Also, although it’s not a 1:1 comparison, for some reason Vic reminds me of the veterinarian fixer from Better Call Saul
I dont know what inspired you to start doing these types of videos, but i absolutely love them and look forward to many more. Much love❤
It’s kind of a mix of my bf getting me interested in anime/nerding out about stories with me, as well as finding a puppy I found on the side of the road. Which sounds not at all related to this kind of content but like, that puppy’s story changed me immensely in a way I can’t describe! Thanks so much for watching and for your kind words! 😄 I’ll keep the videos coming!
V also achieved all these becoming the champion in NC but V wanted more to be a living legend like Morgan Blackhand.